Shaft-bearing.



No. 846,795. PATENTED MAR. 12, 1907. A. H. KRUESI.

SHAFT BEARING.

APPLICATION FILED SBPT.30, 1905.

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/8 by MM @my No. 846,795. PATENTED MAR. l2, 1907. A. H. KRUESI. SHAFT BEARING.

APPLICATION FILED sEPT.3o.19o5.

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AUGUST H. KRUESI, CF SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

1 SHAFT-BEARING.

ratented March 12, 1907. v

Application lilefl September 30,1905. Serial No. 280.783.

To @ZZ whom, it mia/y conce/'11,:

Be it known that I, AUGUsT H. KRUEsI, a

'in the county of 'Schenectady and State of New York, have invented `certain new and useful Improvements in Shaft- Bearings, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to shaftbearin'gs, and more particularly to combined step and guide bearings for upright turbine or other shafts, and has for one of its objects -to provide an improved construction whereby Schenectady,

rate lubricating system-as, for example, the step-bearing may be supplied with water and the guide-bearing with oil.

In turbines it is customary to locate the step and guide bearings in a casing that is arranged in the chambered base of the machine, which receives the 'exhaust from the wheelcasing and condenses it by means of a condenser located therein or discharges it intoa condenser arranged exterior to the chamber.

In order that the vacuum of the condenser s stem may not be impaired by leakage of air -t rough the bearing, a

packing is `required around the shaft Where it enters the bearingcasing. A further object of the invention is to provide a suitable packing for this' purpose. I use in this connection a hydraulic packing for the shaft, in which a continuous flow of water is maintained, preferably by means of.

the system supplying the step-bearing, al-

though a se arate system for this purpose may be emp oyed, .if desired.

For an understandingof the details of construction and combination of arts reference is to be had tothe following escription and to the claims appended hereto.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate one embodiment of the invention, Figure 1 is a central vertical section of a bearing. Fig.y 2 is asimilar section of a modified form of bearing. Fig. 3is a plan view of the lower bearing-block of the step-bearing, `and Fig. 4 isa detail sectional view of a portion'of the bearing-blocks. j

Referring to the drawings, 1 representsthe a turbine that is chambered to receive the'exhaiist from the turbinewheels, a portion of one of which latter is shown at 2 mounted on a vertical shaft 3. The base 1 is provided with a central opening each be supplied by a sepa- 1 yt, in which is mounted the bearings for the.

shaft. At the opening 4 is provided an upwardly-extending cylindrical flange 5, proder 6. AThe cylindrical and bottom surfaces 7 of the shoulder 6 are carefullymachined Vto fit an annular shoulder or flange 8 of the bearing-casing 9 and form a practically air-tight joint. The casing 'is secured in place by means of bolts l0 passing through the shoulders 6 and 8. The casing is cast with a cylindrical chamber at its lower portion and with a reduced taperingl bore at its upper portion, the latter receiving the guide-bearing and the former the step-bearing. The bottom of the casing is closed by means of "a bottom plate 11, which is shouldered so as to center itself in the lower end of the casing and is held inl lace-by bolts 1 2. A sufficient number of bo ts 10 and 12 are rovidedA to amply sustain the weight of the s raft and the members carried thereby. The step-bearing comprises an annular or disk-shaped bearing-Y` blocr 13which is fitted and suitably keyed to the lower end of the shaft, so as to rotate therewith. Below the said block is a lower bearing-block 14, which is prevented 'from rotating by means of studs 15, securedl to the bottom plate-11. The lower block, though non-rotatable, is capable of-a limited vertical movement for the purpose of adjusting the clearance between the relatively movable parts of the turbine by raising or lowering the shaft.. To guide the movement of the block, the latter is provided with a piston-like eX- i tension 16, that is guided in a cylindrical depression or recess in the bottom plate 1 1.

In order to raise or lower the bearing-block '14, a screw 17 1s' rovided that enters a tapped opening in the ottom plate 11.. The upper surface of the lower bearing-block is provided with concentric grooves 18 and connecting radial grooves 19, Figs. land 3, by means of which thel water or other medium is caused to act on an extended area on thel upper block. Water is supplied to the grooves 18 and 19 of the lower bearing-blockby su p lypipe 20, which extends through the a justing-screw 17 and lis attached to the bearingblock. The cylindrical chamber 21, formed by the lower end of the casing and the bottom plate,` is somewhat larger in diameter than the bearing-blocks, so as to receive the water discharged from between the latter vided with the overhanging portion or shoul- IOO i les and act asa drainage-chamber. The discharged water finds exit `through a drainpipe' 22, communicating Withjthe drainagechamber, and flows back tothe source of supply. In order to provide for free discharge of the water through the `drain-pipe, a vent or air-equalizing conduit 23 is arranged -to communicate with the upper part of the chamber through a bore 24 and ashort stand-- pipe 25. -Y In casel of stoppage. of the drainpipe 22 the ipe 25 constitutes anloveriiow, y preventing t e water'from'rising and enterv 111g the guide-bearing compartment or cham- .ber. 1

x5 The upper or reducedportion of the casing -9 isinter'iorlytapered, and fitting therein is a through which a water or other medium is adapted to ilow, and thereby form a complete seal between the interior of the bearing-casing and the chambered base of the turbine. This seal prevents leakage of air to the base, and but for the seal the tuous passage thimble or. shell 26 'ofA the guide-bearing. The'lower portion lof-the thimble is circumi ferentialliy hanged and extends under an inv-2'o ternal shoulderonthecasing and by means v of bolts 27 isheld in place. 'Formed-mand i held -by'd'ovetail projections from the interior surface of the ,shellis a lining 28 of Babbitt, which surrounds the shaft and isv separated therefrombya slight clearance. About mid- "1 Way the endsy offthevlining on-the inner surfacejrhereof is formed an annular groove29 Ql, is Supplied under I- to vreceive lubricant.

The lubricant', such as pressure from a suitable source lthrough the pipe 30, that connects with a passage' 31, drilled in the'bearing-casvring 9 and'shell- 26. The lubricant flows from I vthe groove 29 between the shaft and lining to A opposite ends ofthe latter, where are formed centrally through the upper bearing-block and the shaft to a point where the collar 40 is located, and extending radially from the conduit through the shaft and the collar 40 are passages 43', emptying into one or more grooves of the packing. `In order to prevent the water supplied to the step-bearingf from takin that t rough the conduit 42, and thus exerting lower pressure 1n the region surrounding the a path of least resistance-fnamely,

an insufl-"lcient pressure between the bearing- A blocks-abafing device 44 is,provided`in the conduit, the same functioning to set up a back pressure 'of lilm will always be maintained between the bearing-blocks. y y

hThe major portion of the water supplied to t e into the.fturbine base. Some, however,

annular collecting-grooves 32, from which, at l the lower end, it esca es'through i assage 33 t'oai chamber 34 bellbw the gui e-bearing. Between the'shell26 and the casing is a cham'- ber 35, by way of 4,which lubricantl from the u perv collectingroove 32 owsinto the chamber 34, the ischarge 'from said chamvb'er taking place through the drainage-pasf'j. sages 36. kheguide-bearing compartment Y of the' casing isseparated from the compart-A 45 ment eontainingthe step-bearing by adia- 1 lphragm or partition 37 that acts. as .a basin and receives the oil drained from the guidebearing and discharges itthrou'gha drain- -conduit In order `toprevent oil from' creepingalong thel shaft 'into the step-bear- -works its way inwardly through the tortuous such a value that ay fluid A packing vmerely discharges outwardly passage between the members 40 and/l08L and' overflows between the shaft and packing vandldrop'svon deflector 45 in a chamber-45, i i

cored' out .in the upper end offthe casing, and from .the latter ythe water drains through accnduit 46 and drain-pipe47 back bearingto thesou-rce. By this arrangement as long as the fluid-pressure is' maintained in the.I i i .I a perfect seal 11o f step-bearing-supply system ,against the admission of air'is provided at kthe packing. f

- Referring to Fig. 2, Akthe parts ol" which cori yresponding toA Asimilar,

f diiierentmeans forobtaininga diierence-cl' parts in Fig. 1 V being designated bysimilarreference characters, a4

pressure between the'iiluid suppliedto the step-bearing and .packing is employed." In this case an. annular'vchamber48` is formed between the two bearing-blocks, to' w hichl the water 'underhighpr'e'ssure is delivered through branches 48a, leadingfrom the supply-pipef20. The Hui in passing to the con- .i il

p acklng.' '.I'hls comprises a collar.40,secured tcandrotating'with the' turbineshaft, and a stationary" annular vvmember 40a, supported *on the'upp'er end of the bearing-casing. The

adjacentsurfaceslforljthese two members areccneentrically-tongued' and grooyed, andthe ,f ongu'es41 formed thereby interlace in such l g a' Imanner-# as to pro-videa restrictedand tor- `l duit 42 in the shaft must flow inwardly from the annular chamber' of .the two-"bearing-blocks, (indicate ,at'49,)

' theweight of the shaft. By this means the pressure is reduced to the roper point by the time the fluid reaches' t e conduit. vIn

orderV tov throttle the `escape of fluid out'- between the ortions L25 and in doing so itdoes its share in supporting v.

vthe registering grooves.

:wardly-from the annular chamber 48 and between the blocks at the porti'ons'50, an adjustable annular ring 51, of carbon or equivalent material, is employed, whic i isseated in a groove in the lower bearing-block. This ring` is held in a holder 52, of channel-shaped cross-section, that i s supported on springs 53, interposed between it and adjustingscrews 54, the latter y.being arranged in suitable numbers around the bearing-block.

As shown in Fig. 4, the bearing-blocks are separated by a film the thickness offwhich is considerably exaggerated. Byrneans of the acking-ring 51 the free discharge of the film fiom between the blocks may be restricted to any desired degree by adjusting the screws. The effect of the ringis to produce aback pressure due to the throttling, so that a certain portion of the fluid will pass up through the conduit 42 to the packing. The packing-ring 51, being spring-supported, will readily yield the weight of the shaft whenevery the presmitting the lower bearing-block to' directly sustain the weight of the shaft and its parts. Also in this modification the construction of the hydraulic packing is slightly different.. `The grooves in the two members and 4()a register, and the rings 55 are assembled in .By this construction a more tortuous path for the'water is provided, so that higher` pressures may be employed. The water that4 escapes inwardly from this packing is conveyed into the chamber 45a, and thence discharges into the drainage-'chamber 34 and drains off with the lubricant. v

-' In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes I have described the princioperation of my invention, together with the apparatus which I- nowf consider to re resent (thebest embodiment thereof; but

I esire to have it understood'that the apparatus shown is onlyillustrative and that lthe p invention can be carried out by other means.

.I so

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. -The combination of a shaft, a chambered base surrounding the shaft, a hydraulic bearing for supporting the shaft, a liquid packing which acts as'a' seal to prevent' the passage of air from "the `bearing into thebase,

` and a means for maintaining a constant flow pressure 6 oA of liquid through the packing when the 'shaft is in operation.

2. The combination -of a shaft, a bearing which supports lthe shaft by a fluid under a guide-bearing' for the shaft, means for continuously maintaining said pressure, a second means inde endent of the rst for lubricating the guidecaring, and a liquid packing supplied by the first-mentioned means which acts as a seal to prevent leakage from the guide-bearing.-

and lower into the groove under lpacking, ing-casing for diminishing the pressure of the 3.1The combination of a shaft, a chambered base around the shaft, a bearing which supports the shaftby a fluid film, means for continuously maintaining the film under pressure, and a liquid packing supplied by said means which acts as a seal to prevent airfrom leaking from the bearing into the chambered base.

4. The combination of a shaft, a chambered base surrounding the shaft, a hydraulic step-bearing for the shaft, a guide-bearing for ,the shaft, means for supplying lubricant to the step and guide bearings, and a liquid seal between the bearings and the chambered base.

5. The combination of'a shaft, avbearing which supports the shaft by a fluid film, a fluid packing for the shaft which prevents pressure from leaking through the bearing, a source of fluid under pressure which maintains a constant flow through the bearing, and a conduit in the shaft which conveys fluid from the bearing to the packing.

6. The combination of a shaft, a bearing i which hydraulically supports the shaft, a fluid packing for the shaft, a source of fluid under pressure which maintains a constant flow through the bearing, a conduit in the shaft which receives fluid from the bearing and supplies it to the packing, and separate drains for the packing and bearing.

'7 The combination of a shaft, a hydraulic bearing for supporting the same, a casing for the bearing, a hydraulic packing around the shaft, a source of fluid under high pressure which supplies both the bearing and the sure of the fluid before i-t reaches the packing.-

8. The combination of a shaft, a hydraulic bearing for supporting the same, a casing for the bearing, a hydraulic packing around the "shaft, a source of fluid under high pressure which supplies both the bearing and the and means located within the bearfluid before it reaches the packing.

9. The combination of a' shaft, astep-bearing therefor, an inclosure for the bearing which is subjectedto a pressure different from that of the atmosphere, and a packing around the shaft for preventing pressure from escaping through the bearing, said packing comprising'a member supported on the bearing, a member rotating with the shaft which coperates with the other member, and means for supplying fluid to the space between the members. l

- 10. The'combinationof a shaft, a stepbearing therefor, an inclosure. for the bearing which is subjected to a pressure different from that of the atmosphere, and a 1packing round theshaft for preventing fluid om escaping throughA the bearing, said packingV comprising a series of annular members supported on the bearing, a device mounted on ICOl packing, and means for diminishing the pres- IIO IIS

and rotatingwith the shaft which is provided with a series of annular members which cooperate with those of the other series to hold a body of fluid, and means for supplying fluid between the members to form a seal.

11. The combination of a shaft,`a stepbearing therefor, an inclosure for the bearing,

y fluid under and a packing round the shaft for preventing pressure from escaping through the bea-ring, said packing comprising a series of annularmembers surrounding `the shaft and located on the bearing, a collar secured to the shaft which is prbvided with a series of concentric 'annular members 4 cooperating `with the other series to form a restricted pas.-

.'sagc, and means for forcing fluid-through said passage.

- 12. .The combination Of-ashaft asap bearing therefor, an inclosure for the bearingwhich is subjected `to a pressure different.

- from that of the atmosphere, and a packing around the'shaft for preventing. .fluid under pressure from escaping through the bearing,

25- 'in adjacent surfacesv and separated by a said packing comprising twovrelatively rotating members having registering grooves .l space, rings arranged in the groovesl which c'operate therewith to forma restricted pas- ..s`age,- and means for' supplying'luid to said passage. y 4

13. In a turbine, the combination of a 'chambered base which is adapted. to receive theeXhaust-fluid from the turbine-Wheels', a

shaft extending into the base, astep-bearing thereforlocated in the base, means for sup- `=plying fluid tothe bearing to hydraulically support they shaft, a hydraulic packing around the shaft for preventingl leakage of the fluid under pressure from the bearing, and'means forsupplying fluid from the bear'- -ing to the packing.

` venting 'the two systems. y y

16; The combination of a'shaft, a step--A `eating systems for su and `,means located wit 1n the casing for prep 14.`The combination of a shaft, a step- Vbearing therefor, a guide-bearing, acasing commento both bearings, and' independent lubricating ysystems for supplying the bearings. f f

.15.' The' ombination of a shaft, a stepbearing therefor, a guide-bearing, a c asing common toboth bearings, independent lubrifree minglingof the lubricants from bearing therefor, a guide-bearing, ay casing inclosing the bearings, se arate means for ysupplying lubricant to the earings, and separate drainage systems which convey eX- haust-lubricant away 'from the bearings.

' 17. The combination of a shaft, a bearingf casing which is divided into two co1npartments, a sten-bearing in one compartment, a guide-bearing'in the other, means for supp1ying. lubricanty to each of the bearings, the lubricant from each bearing draining into its bearings and .between the` two bearings for plying the bearings,v

`respectivecompartment, and separate drainage-conduits leading from the compartments.

v 18. The' combination of ashai't, a'bearingcasing, a step-bearing arranged in the lower end thereof, la guide#bearing located in theupper end of the casing,'means forv supplying ylubricant to the bearings, a diaphragm or drainage-basin between the two bearings which receives lubricant from the guide-bear ing,l and a discharge-conduit leading from said basin.

19. The combination of a shaft, a stepbearing, a guide-bearing, a fluid packing that forms a seal, means for supplying lubricating fluid to the bearings and also to the packing, a deflector on the shaft between the two bearings for preventing the' fluid discharged 'i from one bearing from mixing with that disthe packing and one of the bearings for de- `fleeting the fluid discharged from the packl1ng,'and separate drainage 'systems for the bearingsand packing. v 21..'The combination of, a shaft, a stepbearing, [a guide-bearing, a fluid packing, means for supplying fluid to the bearings and also to. the packing, a deflector on the shaft preventing thel fluid discharged from one bearing from mixing with th'atdis'charged from the other, a deflector on the shaft between the packing and one of the bearings for dell ecting the fluid discharged IOO from thepacking, separate drainage systems for the bearings and packing, a casing for the bearings provided with lubricant-collecting chambers for receiving the 'discharge from the bearings and packing, and drainage-conduits connected with the chambers.

22. Incombination, a shaft, relatively movable bearing-blocks therefor provided' with a chamberbetween them, means for supplying fluid to said chamber at a pressure sufficient tov maintain a fluid filmI between the blocks, a'casing inclosing the bearing-blocks IZO which forms a chamber to receive the eX- haust' discharged between the latter, a packing around-the shaft for preventing the escape of pressure through said casing, and

means for receiving the fluid discharged from said bearing at a decreased plying it to the packing.,

23. In combination, a shaft, relatively ro; tatable bearing-blocks therefor provided with a chamber between them, means for pressure and sup- 5 supplying fluid to said chamber at a pressure sufficient to maintain a filmbetween the blocks, means for regulating the discharge of fluid between the blocks, a hydraulic paczking around the shaft, and means for' supplying fluid discharging from between the blocks to said packing.

24. The combination of a shaft, relatively rotatable bearin -blocks therefor provided lo with a chamber etween them, a casing for the bearing-blocks and shaft which receives fluid discharged from between the bearingblocks, a'structure in which the bearing-casing is located that is subjected to a pressure i5 different from, that of the atmosphere, a hydraulic packing around the shaft for preventing leakage of fiuid under pressure from the casing, a conduit in the shaft which receives fluid from between-the bearing-blocks at a E zo pressure lower thanl the supply-pressure and delivers it to the packing, and an adjustable device between the bearing-blocks for proportioning `theA amount of iiuid' discharging -to the packing) and exhausting from the 25 blocks into the e aring-casing. Y 25. The combination of a shaft, relatively rotatable bearing-blocks therefor provided with a chamber between them, a casing ,for

the bearing-blocks and shaft which receives 3o fluid discharged from between the bearingblocks, a structure in which the bearing-cas-v ing is located, a hydraulic packing around the shaft for preventing leakage of fluid under pressure from the casing, a conduit in the shaft which receives fluid from between the bearing-blocks at a pressure' lower than. i the supply-pressure and delivers it to the packing, and a' yieldingly-supported and adl justable ring carried by one of and arranged between the bearing-blocks for proportioning the amount and pressure ofthe fluid supplied to the packing. i 26. The combination of a shaft, a bearing for the shaft which is exposed to a 'given pressure, an inclosure for the bearing which is subjected to a different pressure, and a packing for preventing leakage between the bearing and the inclosure comprising series of overlapping, spaced, concentric annular members suitably supported by the shaft and the bearing respectively to form a tortuous passage, and means for supplying liquid to said passage.

27. The combination of a shaft, a-stepbearing for the end of the shaft, a guide-bearing for the shaft adjacent the step-bearing, a casing within which the bearings are supbearings under pressure, and a liquid sealing device for preventing leakageA between the interior and exterior ofthe casing.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this th day of September, 1905.'

' AUGUST H. KRUESI.

Witnesses:

W. L. BLENKIsoN, S. M. BARBER.

ported, means for supplying lubricant to the v 

